• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.434-442
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this predictive study was to identify factors affecting health related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: The participants in this study were 131 patients with RA who were recruited from the outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Seoul. Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis was evaluated by calculating the Disease Activity Score 28. Disability in activities of daily living (ADL) was assessed with the Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire, and depression with The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. HRQoL was evaluated using The Short Form 36 Health Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Pain, disability in ADL, disease activity, and depression correlated negatively with physical and mental dimensions of HRQoL. But hierachical multiple regression analysis revealed that disability in ADL and depression were the only variables negatively influencing physical and mental QoL after adjustment for influences of sociodemographic variables. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that disability in ADL and depression, rather than disease activity and pain have profound effects on HRQoL in patients with RA. Further studies are needed to assess the predictive ability of disease activity and pain on HRQoL in this population.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.613-621
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• 2009

The purposes of this study were to evaluate symptom experience and quality of life (QOL) and to identify the predictors of QOL among breast cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 disease-free breast cancer survivors at two hospitals between December 2007 and July 2008. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-B, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-short Form and The Linear Analogue Self Assessment Scale were used to assess symptom experience and QOL in these patients. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: The mean score of QOL for breast cancer survivors was 95.81 (${\pm}18.02$). The highest scores among physical and psychological symptoms were sexual interest and anxiety. Year since treatment completion was significantly associated with QOL in sociodemographic variables. Physical and psychological symptoms have a significant negative association with QOL. The results of the regression analyses showed that physical and psychological symptoms were statistically significant in predicting patients' QOL. Conclusion: Symptom experience and QOL are essential variables that should be acknowledged when delivering health care to breast cancer survivors. More attention to the reduction and management of psychological distress could improve QOL among breast cancer survivors.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2016

Background: Chronic back pain shows a high correlation with lumbar disability, physical disability for daily activities, and psychosocial factors, such as depression. Object: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation of the level of pain and disability with psychosocial factors, which are potential disturbance variables, in patients with chronic lumbar pain. Method: The sample included 258 patients, who had complained of chronic lumbar pain for more than three months. The Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale was used to measure the level of pain, and a Korean version of Oswestry Disability Index was used to measure the level of disability. Psychosocial factors were measured using the Tampa scale for Kinesiophobia-11, Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using PASW 18.0, and an independent samples t-test was used to examine frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation of sociodemographic characteristics and major variables. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to investigate the correlation between the level of pain and disability and psychosocial factors. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was done to determine the level of pain and psychosocial factors of functional disorder. The significance level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Result: There is a strong correlation between the level of pain and functional disorder and psychosocial factors in patients with chronic lumbar pain. The study also revealed that as the levels of pain and fear avoidance increase, pain self-efficacy decreases. Conclusion: The results suggest that negative perceptions towards pain, limitations of physical movement, and severe fear avoidance directly affect the decrease in pain self-efficacy. Therefore, it is recommended to test pain self-efficacy when measuring the level of pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.1819-1824
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• 2013

This study tried to explore the determinants of health of the youth in Korea. Especially, it explored how the socio demographic characteristics and delinquent behaviors factors of the Korean youth affect their health. This study used the 2009 Korean Youth Health Risk Behavior On-line Survey for this purpose. It selected 35,668 cases of senior high school students from the raw data and conducted a secondary data analysis. This study conducted frequency analysis, t-test, F-test, and regression analysis. Gender, living with parents, economic status, school type, academic record, internet addiction, problem drinking, drug use were significantly determinants of the health of the youth. Findings may be used for improving health of the Korean youth.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2017

Background: This study purposed to analyze the effects of metabolic syndrome on the total medical charge of patients. Methods: 2013 National Health Insurance Service sample research database (eligibility database, medical database, and health examination database) was used for this study. Gamma regression was applied to analyze the effects of metabolic syndrome on the total medical charge and logistic regression was used to determine the probability of medical charge which was higher than the third quartile. Sociodemographic characteristics (age and household income), health behavior factors (smoking, drinking, exercise, and body mass index), and disease related factors (family history and metabolic syndrome) were included as the independent variables. Results: people who had metabolic syndrome spent more medical expenses than those without metabolic syndrome both in man and woman group. The standard regression coefficient was 0.09 (p< 0.001) in man with metabolic syndrome and 0.16 (p< 0.001) in woman. In addition, woman with metabolic syndrome spent more than the third quartile of medical charge. The odds ratios was 1.04 (p= 0.16) for man with metabolic syndrome and 1.18 (p= 0.013) for woman. Conclusion: people with metabolic syndrome spent more medical charge, so it will need to consider policy interventions for preventing the incidence and management of metabolic syndrome in Korean people.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors of osteoporosis. The data were collected from women who visited Physical Examination Center of a university hospital located in Taejon during the period of September 1997-August 1998. The sample was divided into two groups(the osteoporosis group of 44 cases and the control group of 66 cases). The results were summarized as follows ; 1. Sociodemographic characteristics(education and family income) and BMI showed no significant difference between the osteoporosis group and the control group. 2. There was no significant difference in coffee, unbalanced diet, diet method and meal habit between the osteoporosis group and the control group. 3. The osteoporosis group reported more incidence of operative menopause due to hysterectomy and oophorectomy, but this was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in use of oral pill use, past disease and family history of fracture between the osteoporosis group and the control group, but the odds ratio(OR 3.11, 95% CI : 1.30-7.41) of present illness was statistically significant in the osteoporosis group. 4. There was no significant difference in the reproductive history including number of delivery and abortion and feeding method between the osteoporosis group and the control group. 5. The osteoporosis group showed significant results of lower menopausal age, shorter duration of menstruation and longer duration after menopause compared to the control group. 6. The osteoporosis group reported significantly lower level of physical activity in such variables as work activity and walking time. 7. A logistic analysis showed that shorter period of menstruation, lower level of physical activity, non-alcohol drinking group, and presence of disease were related to the possibility of occurring of osteoporosis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), the influence of the WMSDs on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and to identify the differences of WMSDs and HRQoL between greenhouse farmers and paddy farmers. Methods: Subjects were 34 greenhouse farmers and 56 paddy farmers who were living in a rural community. The sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behavior, working characteristics, WMSDs and HRQoL were investigated. WMSDs symptoms were measured by a selfassessed questionnaire on musculoskeletal disorders symptoms and HRQoL was measured by the Euro Quality of Life (Euroqol) EQ-5D index. The differences on the WMSDs, EQ-5D and it's related factors between the groups were assessed with t-test and ${\chi}^2$-test. Results: Greenhouse farmers were longer the working hours per day and working duration than paddy farmers. The level of prevalence of the WMSDs in greenhouse farmers is higher than in paddy farmers. The EQ-5D index of greenhouse farmers and paddy farmers were 0.819 and 0.874, respectively. Overall, the mean value of EQ-5D index was significantly lower greenhouse farmers than paddy farmers. Conclusions: These results showed that the HRQoL for farmers are strongly influenced by WMSDs and agicultural type in that we are aware of the need to comply with regulations of WMSDs, especially greenhouse farmers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 2003

Objectives : To identify the factors related to awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a Gwacheen population. Methods : This study surveyed 1,176 Gwacheon residents older than 40 years, and measured blood pressure using a standardized guideline in 1999. The study subjects were 473 adults (175 males, 295 females) with hypertension defined as a systolic blood pressure $\geq$140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure $\geq$90 mmHg or reported treatment with antihypertensive medication. Information on awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, and sociodemographic and health-related factors .was collected through person-to-person interviews with a structured questionnaire. Results : Overall, 252 (53.3%) of hypertensive subjects were aware of their condition, of whom as many as 193 (76.6%) were being treated, and 81 (42.0%) had their blood pressure controlled at the recommended level (<140/90 mmHg). However, of the 473 subjects found to have hypertension, only 40.8% were being treated, and 17.1% were under control. There were no significant differences in the proportions of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. In multiple logistic regression models, awareness of hypertension was positively associated with age and family history of hypertension in females. Control of hypertension was also positively associated with haying a partner and marital status in females.. Conclusion : These findings demonstrate that much greater efforts on improving awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension are needed, even in urban community settings, considering related factors such as a9e, family history, and marital status. However, these factors should be further investigated for their causal relationship.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2002

The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the smoking behaviors and their related factors of the 6th graders from 25 primary schools in Gwangju City and Chonnam province. The total number of subject were 882 children(2% of total 44,088 persons). The instrument consisted of 14 for sociodemographic and smoking-related characteristics and 12 for smoking behaviors-related factors. The survey was conducted with the help of school nurses from August 20th to September 30th, 2000, and the data were analyzed with SAS program. The results were as follows: 12.8% of the 6th graders had once and more smoking experiences and 0.9% of them are current smoking. The number of children who have smoking experience were significantly more in the male group, unsatisfying group in school life, lower in school performance(p< .001); and of lower level of father's education(p< .05), of children of working mothers, and of relatively unhappy family atmosphere(p< .01). There were number of children who have smoking experience were significant in the group of having smoking friends, of frequent buying cigarette, and of having smoking siblings(p< .001) and relatives(p< .05). It is concluded that smoking experience of primary school children in Gwangju and Chonnam area were relatively lower than that of other provinces and foreign countries but starting age of smoking was tended to be lower gradually.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.81-97
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• 2017

Objecives: This study was performed to analyze the effect of the family strength perceived by college students on flow. Methods: To achieve this purpose, a survey on the family strength and flow was conducted on 113 male college students and 187 female college students. Correlation analysis and independent sample t-test were carried out among the variables, and regression analysis was performed to examine the effect of the family strength on flow. Results: The results are as follows. Firstly, the family strength of the college students had a static correlation with flow. Secondly, the examination on the difference between the male and female college students in the family strength and the flow revealed that the family strength and flow of male students were significantly higher than those of the female students. Thirdly, according to the analysis on the influence of family strength on flow when the sociodemographic background was controlled, the shared value system among family members, the ability of problem solving, and ties with family members from the sub-factors of family strength had significant effect on the sub-factors of flow. Conclusions: Through the above results, this study identified that family strength is important for college students who have greater independence and freedom than in middle and high school, and the higher family strength was, the higher flow was. This result can be used as a basis to prepare a practical intervention plan to increase the flow of college students.